Mogontiacum (Mainz)

Mainz Ships

This first-century relief from Mainz-Weisenau is the lower part of
the tombstone of a carpenter from the Museum für antike Schifffahrt. It
shows how a warship is built. It has a ram and a high afterdeck,
not unlike the ships that are shown on the Column of Trajan in Rome. Two
catapults are also indicated. One wonders why these ships were ever needed,
because in the first century, the Chatti on the other bank of the Rhine
did not build ships - so why should the Romans employ ramming ships?

Edge of Empire. The book Arjen Bosman and I wrote about Rome's Lower Rhine Frontier (order; review)

The two most splendid objects in the Museum für antike Schifffahrt
are the reconstructions of warships that were excavated in 1981/1982 north
of ancient Mogontiacum. This is the reconstruction ("Nachbau 2") of the
ship known as Mainz-3, which was built at the end of the third century,
and must have played a role in the Alamannic war of Constantius Chlorus
(in 292).

The ship was remarkable for its width (about 1:5) wide and has twice
seven rowers; it may have served for patrols, although it may also have
been used to transport food supplies and weapons. The catapult is very
interesting because it has a mechanism to add new new arrows to the barrell
automatically. It's the ancient equivalent of rapid fire. Its practical
use can only have been limited, but it must have impressed the Alamans.

The afterdeck, with a small cabin for the captain and the helmsman.
The helm is also visible.

This is the helm of the other reconstruction, the Mainz-1 ("Nachbau
1"). It was built with wood that was cut in 376, but the ship was later
repaired, with wood from trees that were felled in 385 and in 394. This
is confirmed by a bronze coin of Theodosius
I, minted after 388, that was placed as an offering between the hull
and one of the frames.

The Mainz-1 belongs to a class of ships that is commonly known as Mainz-A, after
this vessel, which was the first of this type that was found by archaeologists. It is a narrow galley with
many rowers, and has a strong stern to ram other ships. It may have been
used to attack the small vessels used by the Alamans, but must also have
served as a carrier to transport troops across the river or to threatened
positions. If the winds were favorable, the sail could be used.

Rowing banks of the Mainz 1 seen from above. Note how the soldiers
were protected by their shields.